I'm wondering if anyone has come across a good resource, either online or in book form, for helping distinguish between desirable flowers and unwanted weeds. I just inherited quite an extensive garden from the former owners of our house, and being relatively new to the Northwest, I don't always know what is growing in my garden. I'd post pics here to ask for help, but I have quite a variety of plants. Thanks very much. C
A friend of mine was just in Lynden, Washington last week for her kid's pipe band concert. She said there was a wonderful botanical garden there which had, among other plots, an area dedicated to displaying and identifying weeds. What a brilliant idea! It also sounds like it would help you. Maybe it's time for a day trip to Lynden. Good luck.
That's a brilliant idea. I could open one here in my backyard. I just need a "gardening coach" to come over and label everything other than the dandelions I know well.
"American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants". It's pricey but very good. "Sunset Western Garden" is a bit less pricey, but not quite as descriptive If I were you, I'd just go ahead and post pictures 3 or 4 at a time and we'll do our best. ;)) barb
I have visited various websites decribing what a weed actualy is. and i have come up with this answer.. "A plant considered undesirable, unattractive, or troublesome, especially one growing where it is not wanted, as in a garden." So i guess this mean anything that you didnt plant in your garden and is unwanted can be called a weed ??? Csmith
No one source has it all. I hope you have a library card; if not, do get one--you'll feel wealthy every time you leave with an armload of colourful gardening books. Here are some the Vancouver Public Library has: Insect, disease & weed I.D. guide: find-it-fast organic solutions for your garden / by Carr, Anna, 1955-, Cebenko, Jill Jesiolowski., Martin, Deborah L., Gilkeson, Linda A., Smith, Miranda, 1944- Emmaus, PA: Rodale, Inc., c2001. 632.96 C31i Living things we love to hate: facts, fantasies & fallacies / by Kennedy, Des, 1945-, Suzuki, David T., 1936- Vancouver: Whitecap Books, c1992. 591.6 K35L A weed by any other name: the virtues of a messy lawn, or learning to love the plants we don’t plant / by Gift, Nancy, 1971- Boston: Beacon Press, c2009. 632.5 G45w Weeds in my garden: observations on some misunderstood plants / by Heiser, Charles B. Portland: Timber Press, 2003 632.5 H47w Weeds, friend or foe?: [an illustrated guide to identifying, taming, and using weeds] / by Roth, Sally. Pleasantville, N.Y.: Reader’s Digest, c2002. 632.5 R84w West coast gardening: natural insect, weed and disease control / by Gilkeson, Linda A. Victoria, B.C.: Trafford, 2006. 632 G47w